Punjab FC’s pursuit for his or her maiden win within the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season continues as they head to the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata to face East Bengal FC on Saturday. The Red & Gold Brigade maybe encountered their second of reckoning of their earlier encounter towards NorthEast United FC, placing 5 previous the Highlanders to file their greatest ever win within the competitors historical past.
From seen enchancment within the performances of home gamers to a mode of soccer that has excited the East Bengal FC devoted, Carles Cuadrat has had a optimistic affect on the staff. Their impressed run to the Durand Cup closing previous to the marketing campaign recommended that issues had been shifting in the correct path for the staff. They began the ISL season brightly too, nevertheless, a short section struck the place they had been unable to interrupt free from the shackles to cross over the ending line.
However, a rejuvenated unit took to the sphere after the worldwide break, with the complete staff delivering a spotless efficiency of their aforementioned conquer the Juan Pedro Benali-coached facet. In addition to the win, the staff managed to get the help of the spectators behind their again. Being one of many conventional hotbeds of the game in India, Kolkata has the potential to create a doubtlessly intimidating setting for the visiting staff, supplied their staff matches the excessive requirements that the followers affiliate with them.
However, Punjab FC has proven that they aren’t bothered by such elements, taking the assault to Bengaluru FC on the Sree Kanteerava Stadium of their final sport and scoring thrice within the first half itself. The ISL debutants produced one breath-taking aim after one other, reflecting the sheer particular person brilliance brimming by way of that squad. However, they should handle their video games and defend their leads higher, which is the one most essential factor that might decide the result of tomorrow’s sport.
What’s at stake?
East Bengal FC
The house staff has the chance to make the final sport the turning level of their season. Despite optimistic outcomes earlier than, that they had by no means secured a victory of this nature, the place they rolled over the opponents and left no stone unturned, a lot to the delight of the followers on the stands. Cuadrat should look to construct upon that, consolidate their place within the factors desk with three factors towards Punjab FC, whose defensive woes have been seen a number of occasions this season.
The indisputable fact that East Bengal FC are off to their greatest ever begin within the ISL wants no telling, with this being the primary time that they’ve a optimistic aim distinction (+3) seven video games into the season. Their tally of eight factors after these video games can be essentially the most that they’ve garnered at this stage of any of their campaigns within the competitors.
There is a visual technical enchancment of their gameplay, having accomplished 26.5% of their crosses from open play this season, which is the best amongst all groups. It has allowed their wingers to thrive, with the likes of Nandhakumar Sekar and Naorem Mahesh Singh starring with impactful particular person performances. After their exhibiting within the final sport, Cuadrat ought to again his boys to get three factors from this encounter, profiting from the scenario that Punjab FC discover themselves in.
Punjab FC
Punjab FC are nonetheless adapting to life within the high-tier, however an impressed efficiency in Bengaluru should give them vital confidence to undertake a equally proactive method within the yard of East Bengal FC. What labored for Vergetis’ males in that match was they had been fearless, and that confirmed with the idea with which they moved the ball larger up on the sphere and explored areas in and across the Bengaluru FC backline.
The forwards got the liberty to take photographs from distance in the event that they preferred, and all issues fell in place for them to have a primary half as excellent as they might have imagined.
The indisputable fact that they might not maintain the defensive unit collectively within the closing 45 minutes is a distinct story, and although studying have to be taken from it, Vergetis ought to look to bolster the staff with self-perception with the best way they pushed Bengaluru FC again within the first half of that sport. No staff has taken greater than eight video games to register their first win within the ISL. In truth, East Bengal FC did so in eight video games too within the 2020-21 marketing campaign. Some strengthening on the again coupled with dynamism upfront, together with a neat end to the sport might pave the best way for Punjab FC to get the inaugural victory of ISL 2023-24.
Key Players
Nandhakumar Sekar (East Bengal FC)
Nandhakumar Sekar scored twice and assisted as soon as coming off the bench to ship an impactful Super Sub worthy efficiency within the 5-0 win over NorthEast United FC. The 27-12 months-outdated has arrange three targets along with that brace in seven appearances this season, along with his coordination with Mahesh on the sphere bringing nice laurels to the Red & Gold Brigade.
The two of them usually interlink within the closing third, change positions, get into aim-scoring positions, carve open the opposition’s backline with exact passes, crosses, and thus bolstering their frontline that already has the presence of the seasoned Cleiton Silva.
Nandhakumar can have extra time to affect the proceedings if Cuadrat opts to start out him on this sport. The attacker has undertaken a concentrated function on this marketing campaign, focusing extra on staying close to the opposition’s backline as a lot as attainable, sniffing possibilities and placing them to mattress with the assistance of his equally environment friendly teammates. Punjab FC have conceded the second-most (16) targets within the season, they usually might current some alternatives for Nandhakumar to optimise within the upcoming sport.
Juan Mera (Punjab FC)
The Spaniard has been the inventive outlet from the center for Punjab FC, juggling between his defensive and offensive duties completely. He averages 4.6 dribbles per sport, which is the second highest combination amongst all gamers in ISL 2023-24. He has additionally accomplished 1.9 dribbles on a mean in each match, along with his footwork and shut management doubtlessly rising as a explanation for concern for the East Bengal FC line of defense.
With one aim and two assists throughout eight matches, Mera has made his presence felt within the scoreline. He averages 27 passes per sport at an accuracy of 82% and has earned 2.25 fouls in each encounter too, serving to his staff capitalise upon set-items.
He units the tempo of the sport for Punjab FC, bringing out his wide selection of passes, proper from by way of-balls to cross subject deliveries and crosses into the field from wider positions. He has created a aim-scoring likelihood in almost each match, and Mera must dictate the movement of play for Punjab FC to get a optimistic final result out of this sport.
Head-to-Head
This would be the first match between these two groups within the ISL.
Trivia: Punjab FC’s Khaiminthang Lhungdim has gained the third-most tackles by any participant (16) on this ISL season.
Team Talk
“We understand that it was just a victory at home (against NEUFC). When you come from four winless games, one game is not going to put you in the sky. We are conscious that we have to keep doing our work,” East Bengal FC head coach Carles Cuadrat admitted within the pre-match press convention.
“My team did a lot of better things in the last game as compared to the previous games and I was very happy with that. But, some of our mistakes caused us to lose the two points. But these mistakes make us more mature and better for the upcoming games,” Punjab FC head coach Staikos Vergetis remarked forward of the match.
